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Representative Angie Craig Highlights Impact of the American Rescue Plan on Eagan Family with Adult Dependent on the House Floor

April 15, 2021

Representative Craig’s efforts helped the Harris family and others with adult dependents qualify for relief in the American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig spoke on the House floor about the impact the American Rescue Plan's expanded definition of dependents had on an Eagan, MN family with a disabled adult son.

Debbie and Victor Harris of Eagan, Minnesota shared their story with Representative Craig after their son Josh was excluded from relief in the CARES Act. Josh, who has complex medical needs, was among nearly 15 million Americans who were excluded from pandemic relief payments due to their dependent status. The Harris family recently shared their story with the Star Tribune, which you can read here.

In March of 2020, Representative Craig introduced the All Dependent Children Count Act to expand the definition of a dependent eligible for pandemic relief payments to include children younger than 19, students 24 years and younger, and dependents with disabilities regardless of age. After nearly a year of advocacy, the expanded definition of dependents pushed for by Representative Craig was included in the American Rescue Plan.

You can watch Representative Craig's floor speech here. You can read Representative Craig's full remarks below:

Last year, the CARES Act delivered relief checks to millions, but families were disappointed to learn that their dependent adult children weren't eligible to receive support, including the Harris family in Eagan, Minnesota.

Debbie and Victor Harris are proud parents to their wonderful son Josh who has complex medical needs.

Expenses are constant for the Harris family. Home care nurses and their two grown sons provide 24-hour care for Josh.

Despite that, as an adult disabled dependent, Josh didn't qualify for relief.

It was exactly stories like that, why I introduced the All Dependent Children Count Act and pushed to ensure that Josh and millions of other adult children could receive the relief they deserve.

I'm so proud we were finally able to get this in the American Rescue Plan and give families like the Harris' an additional $1,400, allowing them the freedom and support to enjoy some well-deserved time in Minnesota's great outdoors.